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Cape Town - Springbok back Butch James believes a missed penalty kick in this year's Tri-Nations has cost him his place in the Bok starting line-up.
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James told Die Burger newspaper a crucial penalty he missed in South Africa's 14-9 loss to Australia in Durban has kept him out of the run-on side.
James missed an easy shot at goal in the 20th minute of that game at Kings Park which would have given the South Africans a healthy 9-0 lead. Instead, he missed and the Aussies came storming back with a resounding second-half performance to win the game.
"I thought I had a good chance to establish myself as Bok flyhalf, but that failed penalty probably counted against me.
"It was windy that day, but I should nevertheless have kicked it over. The team and Morné Steyn are playing well now, so I can't complain," said James.
Since that loss to Australia the Boks haven't suffered from poor place-kicking. Steyn replaced James for the next weekend's clash against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth and kicked the Boks to an 18-5 victory.
And the Blue Bulls pivot has now succeeded with 24 out of 28 (86%) kicks at goal since that victory over the New Zealanders.
James has sufficiently recovered from a groin injury he picked up in the Boks' first RWC game against Wales, and is providing Bok coach Peter de Villiers with useful cover for the centre and flyhalf positions - a role he admits he's content with doing.
"Morné and the team doing well and with the way things currently stand, I'll be more than happy with a spot on the substitutes' bench."
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
Click to BUY the new Drifta Mobile USB Decoder
Click to BUY the new FIFA 12 game
James told Die Burger newspaper a crucial penalty he missed in South Africa's 14-9 loss to Australia in Durban has kept him out of the run-on side.
James missed an easy shot at goal in the 20th minute of that game at Kings Park which would have given the South Africans a healthy 9-0 lead. Instead, he missed and the Aussies came storming back with a resounding second-half performance to win the game.
"I thought I had a good chance to establish myself as Bok flyhalf, but that failed penalty probably counted against me.
"It was windy that day, but I should nevertheless have kicked it over. The team and Morné Steyn are playing well now, so I can't complain," said James.
Since that loss to Australia the Boks haven't suffered from poor place-kicking. Steyn replaced James for the next weekend's clash against the All Blacks in Port Elizabeth and kicked the Boks to an 18-5 victory.
And the Blue Bulls pivot has now succeeded with 24 out of 28 (86%) kicks at goal since that victory over the New Zealanders.
James has sufficiently recovered from a groin injury he picked up in the Boks' first RWC game against Wales, and is providing Bok coach Peter de Villiers with useful cover for the centre and flyhalf positions - a role he admits he's content with doing.
"Morné and the team doing well and with the way things currently stand, I'll be more than happy with a spot on the substitutes' bench."
* Click HERE for the latest RWC odds on BET.CO.ZA
